Day 41 – Q 5.India’s diversity is a huge capital. Do you agree? Substantiate.

5. India’s diversity is a huge capital. Do you agree? Substantiate. 

भारत की विविधता एक बड़ी पूंजी है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? पुष्टी करें।

Introduction:

“Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, but perhaps the most dangerous thing to live without” – MF Hussain.

A diverse ethos like India not only showcases unity in diversity but also the potential to create waves in innovative thinking. The diversity of India is not only its strength in the cultural sphere but also forms a huge capital for the progress of the nation.

Body

Diversity as a huge capital:

• Geographical diversity: India has almost every possible climate in the world.
  • This makes India robust enough to indulge in all kinds of agricultural and allied sectors. This has led to development in sugar industries, wheat industries, tea industry, fruit industry and industries depending on the cash crops of the subsequent crops. Also, India is leading producer of Milk and milk products, meat industry etc.,
  • Further, it is responsible for huge natural capital (Flora and Fauna). The minor forest produce, forest products generates a huge revenue for the government as well as the tribal people.
  • Furthermore, Water resources: The diversity in availability of water forms capital in terms of activities like fishing as well as in hydroelectric projects etc.,
• Racial diversity: Indian race consists of all major races of the world which forms the human capital especially in mobilization of people across the world (Indian diaspora and ancestral link).
• Linguistic diversity: India has around 20 major languages and more than 200 dialects used in the sub-continent. The literature out of them form a huge capital within and outside the country.
• Tribal diversity: Tribal handicrafts (whether it is Dhokra metal technique of West Bengal or Bidri technique of Karnataka), Tribal dances, etc., forms a huge capital for India.
• Medicinal diversity: The traditional medicinal practices and medicinal plants forms a major capital specially in terms of patents. Also, practices like Yoga, Ayurveda, Homeopathy etc., are gaining importance at the global level (E.g. Yoga is being introduced to fight climate change).
• Diversity for soft power: India with population of major races, religions, languages fares good in soft power which adds up to the diplomatic capital of the country. E.g. Bollywood movies famous in South Asia, Indian food being popular in almost every continent. 
• Diversity of culture translates into diversity of ideas and innovations. Diverse problems and society bring in custom made ideas. E.g. the concept of Ice stupa in Ladakh by Sonam Wangchuk, Zero budget natural farming etc., 
• The historical diversity has added to India’s rich heritage and culture which is a reflection of diverse historical monuments, architecture forming the cultural capital of the country. For instance, we have centuries old churches as well as millennium old temples and mosques.
• Tourism: diverse cultures in practicing religion, traditions, cuisines, manners and clothing attract all the visitors and tourists from globe to India. Being origin of major religion like Jainism, Buddhism also attracts visitors from countries like ASEAN countries.
• Differential Breed of Profession: Diversity has added to diverse professions ranging from Software engineers as well as literature pandits.
• Social capital: Riding under the principle of ‘Unity in Diversity’, Indian diversity upholds the principle of secularism, national integration, intermingling of people forming huge social capital. This can be seen in the fact that India is one of the few countries in south and west Asia which hasn’t seen toppling of democracy or civil war.

However, there are some challenges posed by diversity which is contrarily hindering the capital formation. The instances of mob lynching, communal riots etc., bring forth the issues of communalism, Sectarianism, Casteism, Linguism, Regionalism etc., which also form the side effects of diversity.

Conclusion

Thus, the diversity in terms of race, religion, Language, caste and culture has made India is a strong nation tied together with integration and unity in both politico-geographic and cultural backgrounds. India is on its way of growth and development. It is worth mentioning that it has one of the strong and stable economies in the world and Indian diversity is adding up to its goals.